Mastercard’s June 2025 bulletin (GLB 11691.1) outlines enhanced enforcement under the Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation (BRAM) Program. This update zeroes in on illegal activity within the payment ecosystem, particularly the sale of unapproved pharmaceuticals, tainted nutraceuticals, and research peptides.
If you’re a merchant offering high-quality, LegitScript-certified peptides or nutraceuticals, this renewed scrutiny can be both a threat and an opportunity. At Corepay, we specialize in supporting merchants navigating Mastercard’s compliance requirements, offering a fully compliant payment stack for merchants in regulated industries.
Key Takeaways From Mastercard’s Latest BRAM Update
Mastercard has flagged an increase in illegal and non-compliant sales of substances related to:
- Unapproved GLP-1 agonists and peptides marketed for weight loss or bodybuilding
- Prescription drugs sold without prescriptions
- Tainted nutraceuticals with undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients
- Substances falsely labeled as “for research purposes only” or “not for human consumption”
Looking to learn more about online pharmacy payment processing?
The bulletin specifically calls out Retatrutide and other emerging GLP-1 drugs, citing FDA warnings and reinforcing the requirement that acquirers monitor merchants selling these products closely.
Failure to comply may result in BRAM violations, fines, and termination of processing privileges.
Where Corepay Stands
At Corepay, we’re not just aware of these changes, we’re built for them. We offer tailored merchant account solutions for LegitScript-certified platforms, including:
- Direct high-risk merchant accounts for peptide and supplement merchants
- Partnership with LegitScript to expedite the certification and approval process
- Pre-underwriting reviews to reduce risk of account termination
- Chargeback prevention tools to reduce your VAMP and BRAM exposure
- Our proprietary gateway, Netvalve, with tokenization, fraud filters, and full dispute tracking
- Official Legitscript payment processing partner
Why LegitScript Certification Matters More Than Ever
With Mastercard increasing enforcement, LegitScript certification is quickly becoming the baseline for compliance. If you’re a merchant offering research peptides or related supplements, getting certified protects your business from being mislabeled or flagged under BRAM.
Corepay has helped dozens of merchants through the certification process by:
- Working directly with LegitScript to speed up review timelines
- Helping merchants correct language and site structure issues before submission
- Ensuring product labeling and disclaimers meet regulatory and card brand standards
Common Pitfalls We Help Merchants Avoid
Many merchants get flagged for violations without realizing they’re out of compliance. Some of the most common BRAM red flags we help resolve include:
- Using non-compliant phrases like “GLP-1 for weight loss” on unapproved products
- Selling research peptides alongside bodybuilding or weight loss claims
- Offering bundles that include scheduled or prescription-only ingredients
- Failing to clearly label products “not for human consumption” when appropriate
Final Thoughts
The Mastercard BRAM bulletin is a clear signal: compliance is no longer optional, it’s mission-critical. Legitimate businesses can still thrive in the peptide and supplement space, but only if they have a payment partner that understands the risks and offers proactive support.
At Corepay, we’re purpose-built for high-risk, high-compliance verticals like yours. Let us help you get approved, stay approved, and scale with confidence.
